The University of Tennessee Lady Vols began their 1995-1996 season with a modest goal – “seek a winning fortune.” And that is precisely what they attained, capturing the 1996 NCAA Basketball Championship. When Coach Pat Summitt rolled out the balls to start fall practice, the experts did not predict a bright future for the inexperienced Lady Vols. But when the final horn sounded in March, the UT women had compiled a 32-4 record and won a fourth national title. After plowing through a demanding regular-season schedule and posting the all-time, NCAA, home-court winning streak at sixty, the Lady Vols captured the SEC tournament title, came back from the dead to win the NCAA East Regional, survived overtime in the NCAA semifinals, and then ripped Georgia 83-65 in the championship game. “I’ve had more talented teams,” said Summit in tribute to her gritty squad. “But I’ve not had many with a bigger heart or a more unselfish attitude. Together they got the job done. Everyone played her role to perfection.” The big reason was the leadership in the backcourt of point guard Michelle Marciniak (11.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.3 apg) and off-guard Latina Davis (12.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.6 apg). In addition, 6’2″ freshman Chamique Holdsclaw played with the poise of a veteran in nabbing All-America honors. Just as they had done five years earlier, the Lady Vols proudly made the post-season trip to the White House, this time to visit President Clinton and Vice President Gore.
